Apparatus for filling lubricant cavities in wheels and method therefor



Aug. 7, 1934. H. M. DODGE APPARATUS FOR FILLING LUBRICANT CAVITIES IN WHEELS AND METHOD THEREFOR Filed May 12. 1931 27 5277272? @550 EZFUU E B JMNQ yff 5- Patented Aug. 7, 1934 APPARATUS FOR FILLING LUBRICANT CAV- AND METHOD THERE- ITIES IN WHEELS roe H 'Howard M. 'Dodge Akron, Ohio, assignor to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New corporation of New York.

York, N. Y., a

Application May 12, 1931,Serial No; 536,792 w s Claims. (01. 18-1) My invention relates to procedure and apparatus for filling lubricant cavities'in the bores of wheels. I f I The device is particularly useful inthe filling 'Y of lubricant-retaining cavities in wheels molded from plastic material'corresponding'to the wheel disclosed inmy copending application Serial No. 536,791 filed May 12, 1931.

' The objects of this invention are to provide a simple apparatus for filling such cavities without waste of material, and to provide a method accomplishing the filling'of such cavities with a minimum expenditure of time.

Of the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus-embodying my invention in its preferred form, showing the general construction of the same as mounted on a bench, portions of the bench being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail view of the ratchet pressure-applying'mechanism taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l,

' Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectionof .the lubricant-depositing mechanism and the wheel,

showing the depositing of I the lubricant,'part of 1 is designated by the numeral lfl and-is provided with a central bearing surface or bore 11, terminating in a counter borel2. From the counterbore 12 a groove or lubricant retaining cavity 13 extends along the bearing surface and terminates intermediate the sides of the wheel. The apparatus herein described is adapted to fill this cavity or groove with a stiif lubricating compound and consists generally of a pressure cylinder 14 for containing a body of lubricant 15, a piston 16 (jj provided with means for compressing the lubricant in the cylinder and a hollow mandrel 17 having a side orifice 1'7 adapted to support the wheel and deliver lubricant to said groove. The mandrel 17 is threaded into an orifice 14 in the end of cylinder 14 and is provided with a flange 1'7 larger in diameter than the neck of the cylinder.

Mandrel 17 is throughout the major portion of its length of such diameter as to snugly fit the bore of the wheel 10 and the side orifice 17 therein is equal in length and width to the lubricant retaining groove 13 in the wheel. A'collar 18 is slideably mounted on the mandrel 1'7 and is provided with a fiat guiding strip 19 fixed thereto and slideably engaged in a notch 17 in flange 17*. Strip 19 is provided with stops20 and 21 for limiting the motion of collar 18;, A. compression coil spring 22- surrounds the mandrel 17 between flange 17 and collar 18,'which'- are provided with shoulders for seating the ends. thereof, and holds the collar 18 normallyinsuch a position that stop 20 engages flange 17 At this position the -collar 18,- which is of 'sufiicient- 7 length for the purpose, covers theworifice 17 and acts as a valve to prevent egress of lubricant. Collar 18 is provided-with a concentric shoulder 18 adapted to snugly fit the counter-bore 12 in the wheel.

Assuming that the lubricant 15 under pressure, the operator places a wheelzonthe, end of the mandrel as indicated in dotted lines inFig.

3, with the counter-bored sidetoward the cylin-' der 14, and then moves the wheel longitudinally over the mandrel 17. The counter-bore .12 engages over the shoulder 18 .of the collar 18 and the spring 22 is'conipressedby further: motion until stop 21"engages flange 17 During 'this movement the collar'18 uncoversitheiorifice l'l but the wheel 10 following the collar'keep's the orifice covered. At the end of the movement'the orifice 17 will be completely covered by the wheel; The wheel is now'rotated byithe operator and as-the cavity 13 passes the orifice 175*. the cavity will be filled. with lubricant ,WhlChIWill be cut from the supply by further rotation of thewheel.

Having filled the cavity the operator withdraws the wheel f rom the mandrel.- and collar 18 urged by spring 22 followsthe wheel. in its' outward movement so as to close theorifice against fur: ther escape of lubricant.

I provide means for maintaining the lubricant under pressure and for refilling the cylinder as follows: Cylinder 14 is provided at its rear end with a screw cap 23 through which a threaded piston rod 24 may be rotated to force the piston 16 toward the front end of the cylinder, the cap 23 being provided with corresponding screw threads. Cylinder 14 is rigidly mounted on a bench by a supporting block 26 to which it is clamped. A series of brackets 27, 28, and 29, also mounted on the bench, having openings and aligned with piston rod 24 in which a shaft 30 KID" floor. A tension coil-spring 38 has one end fastened to the floor and the other at 39 to rod 34. Lever 32 is slotted at its shaft engaging end to provide clearance space for a ratchet wheel 40- which is slideably mounted onshaft 30 -and ;.is provided with a key 41 which enters keyway 30*. A pawl 42 pivoted on arm 32 engages the ratchet in such a way as to cause rotation of the ratchet wheel and consequently shaft 30 and piston rod- 24 when the treadle 36 is depressed by the operator and to return to its original position without turning the ratchet wheel under the influence of spring 38. A coil spring 43 serves to urge the pawl toward the ratchet wheel,

In filling the cylinder 14, the piston 16,is tracted as far as possible by turning the crank 30*, the pin 31 removed, and the cover 23 unscrewed and removed with rod 24 and piston mandrel closely fitting said wall and having aside opening adapted to align with the recess when the mandrel is inserted in the article, means for forcing plastic material to said opening, a valve normally preventing flow from said opening and adapted to be opened by sliding movement of anarticle along said mandrel when the article is aligned with said opening, and means for closing said valve on withdrawal of the article from the mandrel.

2. An extruding device for filling a recess 3 formed in the wall of an article, said device comprising a container'for plastic material, a conduit leading therefrom and having a projecting end portionshaped as a closely fitting guide for a plastic-receiving article, said conduit being 3 formed with a side outlet adapted to align with the recess when the conduit is inserted in the article, closure means slideably mounted on said conduit, yielding means holding said closure means over the said outlet, means for limiting the movement of said closure means against said yielding means, means for exerting pressure upon the plastic in said container, and means for limiting movement of said closure means under the influence of said yielding means.

3. An extruding device comprising a container for plastic material, a conduit leading therefrom and having a projecting end portion shaped as a guide for a plastic-receiving member, said conduit being formed with a side outlet, a closure means slideably mountedon said conduit, yielding means holding said closure means over the said outlet, means for limiting movement of said closure; means from its outlet-covering position, and means for exerting pressure upon a plastic in said container. l 4

I 4. The method of filling a recess formed in the Wall of an article adjacent a passage therein which comprises temporarily closingthe cavity by insertion of a close-fitting mandrel in the passage, forcing plastic material into the recess from aside opening in the mandrel, and cutting the plastic material in the recess from the plastic material in the orifice by movement of the article relative to the mandrel.

5. The'method offilling a'recess formed'in the wall of an article adjacent a passage therein which comprises temporarily closing the recess except for a filling opening, forcing plastic material through the opening into the recess, and.v smoothing the surface of the plastic deposited therein by relative rotation'of the article and the confining means.

, fipApparatus for filling with a plastic material a recess formed in and opening upon two angularly disposed faces of an article, said apparatus comprising a conduit fitting against one of said faces and formed with an outlet registrable with the recess-opening in said face, means mounted on said conduit-for closing the recess-opening on the'other of said faces, and means for forcing a plastic material through said conduit.

'7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which the means for closing the recess-opening on the last mentioned face is a part ofa valve structure slidably, mounted on the conduit for closing and opening the conduits outlet. 1

8. Apparatus for filling with a plastic material a recess formed in the side wall-of the bore of an apertured plastic-receiving article, said apparatus comprising an extrusion assembly adapted to provide a substantially complete closure for said recess and including a conduit member shaped to provide a close-fitting internal guide for the reception of the article.

HOWARD M. DODGE. 

